Mustang Challenge Finals are scheduled for Saturday Evening at 7:30pm in our Main Arena!

The Western States Mustang Challenge comes to the Expo for the first time June 6-8 and will feature 30 top horsemen and women and their previously wild American Mustangs.  

The Western States Mustang Challenge is the progeny of the highly successful Extreme Mustang Makeover held in September 2007, which focused on 100 trainers gentling 100 American Mustangs in 100 days. Challenge trainers will have 90 days to gentle their Mustangs and the trained mustangs will be judged on conditioning, groundwork, and a "Horse Course" that requires maneuvers and includes obstacles found in trail and recreational riding situations. Mustang mares and geldings ranging in age from three to four years old will be available for adoption on June 8.

Even though the animals will have been handled and trained, the same adoptions conditions that accompany any Bureau of Land Management adoption will apply for the new owner when the animal is adopted.

Potential adopters will apply for the opportunity to be included in the competitive bidding process at the event with BLM personnel available to review and approve the application on site. In order to apply, applicants must be at least 18 years old, have no prior conviction for inhumane treatment of animals or violations of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act and be able to demonstrate that adequate housing, food, water and facilities will be available to humanely care for the animal. Specific facility requirements also apply that pertain to type and height of fencing, as well as shelter from the elements.
Adopted horses remain with the adopter for one year before “title” of ownership is provided from the BLM. For full adoption requirements and information, go to http://www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov/adoption.htm

“This event will be a real treat for any horse lover, whether they plan to adopt or not,” said Mustang Heritage Foundation Executive Director Patti Colbert. “Seeing how well these animals respond to training and handling after only 100 days is something the public has never seen before, let alone having the chance to own the horse. This is absolutely something not to be missed.”

Additional Challenge events are being held in April at the Midwest Hors Fair in Madison, Wis., and August at the Wyoming State Fair in Douglas. The highlight of the year will be the $50,000 Extreme Mustang Makeover featuring 200 wild Mustangs and their trainers in Fort Worth, Texas, September 18-21.

The Mustang Heritage Foundation (MHF), in partnership with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), created the Extreme Mustang Makeover and Mustang Challenge events to highlight the recognized value of American Mustangs through a national training competition. The event will give the public a unique opportunity to see the results of wild horses becoming trained mounts and then participate in a competitive bidding process to adopt one of these treasured animals. The purpose of the competition is to showcase the beauty, versatility, and trainability of these rugged horses that roam freely on public lands throughout the West, where they are protected by the BLM under Federal law.

Nearly 26,000 Mustangs roam federal and privately held contracted lands across the country. In order to manage the herds and maintain both land and herd health, the BLM oversees the adoption of wild horses and burros through public adoptions held throughout the United States. Since 1973, more than 219,000 wild horses and burros have been adopted.

About the Mustang Heritage Foundation
The mission of the Mustang Heritage Foundation and the goal of the Extreme Mustang Makeover are to increase the adoption of mustangs across the country. The Mustang Heritage Foundation created the Extreme Mustang Makeover event to showcase the recognized value of mustangs through a national training competition.
 
About the Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for managing 258 million acres of public lands, located mostly in the West. Wild horses and burros roaming public rangelands are managed in a manner consistent with BLM's overall multiple-use mission, as set forth in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. For more information, visit www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov or call 866-4MUSTANGS.

For more information contact the Mustang Heritage Foundation at (512) 355-3225.

 Download a list of selected trainers.